But it took health visitor Irene Carswell six months to arrange a visit to see the youngster in March 2009, despite being handed the case the previous September

Tragic tot Declan Hainey was crawling, rolling and “doing well” when seen by a health visitor at the flat he shared with his drug addict mother, a Fatal Accident Inquiry into his death heard.

But it took health visitor Irene Carswell six months to arrange a visit to see the youngster in March 2009, despite being handed the case the previous September.

The hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court was told Declan weighed 7.9kgs, was 69cm tall, and showed “fine motor skills” during the visit.

He was also on milk solution and eating solids “two to three times a day” when the tot was looked over at the age of 11 months.

Reading from a progress report the witness said: “Declan was seen with his mother at home. He was doing well, rolling, crawling but not keen to sit up on his own.

“Fine motor skills, on milk solution and solids two to three times a day. He has a nappy rash and advised his mother to attend GP.”

Mrs Carswell said the tot showed a “normal child development for his age” and she had “no concerns” over his safety following the first visit she had made to the flat at Bruce Road in the town’s Gallowhill district.

Declan was playing on a rug when she saw him. He had “good muscle tone” and “was keen to crawl”. But he was not keen to sit up unsupported. He appeared to “sway side to side” when attempting to sit up on his own.

She said: “He showed a normal development for his age and seemed quite happy. He was doing well.”

However, Mrs Carsewell voiced concern over the state of the youngster’s nappy rash which was “quite high up” and extended round to the front of his tummy.

She told the hearing she felt the youngster was “irritated” by it and he might have been suffering from the skin condition eczema. She advised Miss Hainey to take Declan to his GP.

The witness revealed Miss Hainey didn’t want Declan registered in a nursery in the Paisley area because she was embarrassed about her drug addiction history getting out in the community.

She said: “I got the feeling she was minimising how she felt. She was quite a difficult person to get to know. She wanted to keep you at arm’s length.

“I spoke to her about registering Declan for a nursery. I told her I would put my name down in support of her application.

“But she didn’t want to be seen as a drug addict. Because she didn’t want anyone to know about her being on the methadone programme, she wanted a nursery in Renfrew.

“She considered Renfrew because it was closer to her mum’s house.”

Mrs Carswell learned from drugs worker Jill Stevenson that Miss Hainey’s blood was being tested by her doctor amid concerns over the amount of alcohol she was drinking at the time she was on a methadone rehabilitation programme.

In court, the health visitor was asked which warning signs would lead her today to having a family’s case stepped up in terms of social work involvement, and she replied Miss Hainey’s drink problem would be enough to trigger an intervention.

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Giving evidence to the hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court, Irene Carswell said she had taught 40-year-old drug addict Miss Hainey how to safeguard Declan after they had moved into a flat in the town’s Bruce Road